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- MacFormula is very easy to use. Just choose the
- radio button(s) corresponding to what features you want,
- type in your formula, and then hit either the button
- labeled “Calculate”, or hit a <CR> or <ENTER>. You may
- also enter a value into the Milligrams box, but this
- is optional.
- MacFormula does some of its own error checking,
- and will usually let you know when you are doing something
- wrong. If you are consistently getting errors, make sure
- you are doing the following:
- • Elements must begin with an UPPERCASE letter and,
- in the case of two-letter symbols, the second letter
- must be lowercase.
- • User-defined symbols must be defined. That is, do
- not forget to define the symbol you are using.
- • Do not use the <CR> or <ENTER> keys as a substitute
- for pressing the “Calculate” button with the mouse when
- your formula is either hilited, or when the blinking
- cursor is not at the end of your formula.
- Finding milligrams or millimoles
- By default, MacFormula allows you to input a value
- for the number of milligrams of a substance you are working
- with. Hitting the “Calculate” button will then find the
- formula weight and number of millimoles simultaneously
- (Presuming you have entered a formula, of course). If you
- want to find milligrams instead, click on the word
- “Milligrams” to toggle this function. You’ll see what I
- mean when you try it.
- Elemental Analysis
- The only requirement for doing an elemental analysis is
- that you first input a formula and calculate the formula
- weight. If you are using user-defined symbols such as
- Me(thyl), Ph(enyl), etc., you will have to write these as
- their elemental equivalents beforehand if you plan on
- finding the % Carbon, etc. Knowing the % Phenyl is not
- going to help you, is it?
-